Day: July 2, 2018

My name is Jon Wegner aka Scooterjon. I’ve lived in North Dakota, USA for the past 15 years after being a lifelong Minnesotan. My blog is about my disease which is Multiple Sclerosis (MS). I was diagnosed in 1991 at age 33. I would have exacerbations every 12-18 months. Exacerbations are a worsening of symptoms that would last 1-2 months. They were tolerable but then in January of 2000 my MS started getting progressively worse. The first thing to stop working was my bladder. By November of 2011 my MS turned into a real life changing disability. I stopped standing, walking and my MS fatigue seemed more worse.

My neurologist now considers me to have Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS). More MS lesions were found on my spinal cord in October/November 2011. Those lesions are disrupting all the body functions below my waist. Nothing below my waist works properly anymore. In my blog I hope to share what I know about MS. I also know how my MS has made me feel for the past 27 years!

I can still drive my van with hand controls otherwise I’m riding my scooters 100% of the time hence my nickname. One new addition in my life is a Dodge Caravan minivan which is handicap accessible. When the sliding door is opened on the passenger side a ramp lowers to the ground. I just ride my scooter up the ramp and I’m inside the van. The front passenger seat swivels so I then can transfer to the passenger seat and then to the driver’s seat. It works great and I love it!! The funny thing about Multiple Sclerosis is this. The disease slows people down and things that used to be so easy are more challenging. The funny part is that MS doesn’t kill anyone which is good, it just makes life more difficult for people including me.

I always thought the loss of my legs was the worst thing that MS could do to me. However, in July 2016 I started losing control of my bowels. Losing bowel control has really messed my head up. I’ve had anxiety problems since the 1990’s but not knowing when I’m going to have a BM has turned me into a part-time recluse. Let me clarify that… my MS affects the sphincter muscle in my rear end. I know when I’m going to have a BM but I have to be on a toilet in 45-60 seconds including transfers otherwise I’m having an accident. I’ve mainly spent the past year inside my apartment which I know isn’t good for me, either.

I turned 60 in March of 2018. I figure and hope that I have 20 or so years left. After being a coordinated athlete my entire life sometimes it’s hard to admit that I’m now considered a disabled person but I am. My blog is about my MS, the symptoms and personal stories. After 27 years with the disease I have alot of information and stories to tell. As an adult though, it’s hard watching your own body falling apart right before your eyes!